The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-13
O'BRIEN'SRACK RENTWAR
1,ANsDOWNE TERRIBLY ARRAIGN-
ED AT QUEBEC.

Received with Cheers by the People
--Lansdowne, the Irish Evictor, and
Not the Governor-General the Man
He Crossed the Ocean to Hunt Down
Danger of Riot at the Toronto
Meeting.
QUEBEC, May 12.-The greeting which
met William OBrien on his arrival in this
city might be regarded as triumph. 1t
canned on the arrival of the train at the
depot, as though the whole city had turne q
ont TO cheer and welcome the author of the
.tPlan of Campaign" A committee escorted
Mr. O'Brien to the local Parliament House,
where he was introduced to many of the
members. Mr. O'Brien expressed exceeding
delight at the way in which he was received
on entering the Parliament House. Owen
Murphy, member for Quebec introduced
him to the Legislative Assembly and John
Hea1n in the Legislative Council or Upper
House.
A SINGULAR COINCIDENCE
AT the time a motion of want of conf
dence in the government in relation to the
federation act was being debated in French,
which language Mr.. O'Brien speaks fluently
An of the members, French, English and
Irish alike, crowded around the editor, con-
versng with him eagerly and shaking him
warmly by the hand. Speakers Marchand,
of the Legislative Assembly, and De la
Br1yere, of the Legislative Council, re-
ouested a special interview after the ad-
iournment of both houses and expressed
warm sympathy for Mr.. O'Brien.
What was most significant at to-night's
meeting, which was held in the Academy of
Music. aside from the crowded house and
the enthusiasm of the audience and what
Mr.. OBrien remarked upon in an especial
way, were letters from Prime Minister
Mercier, the Tory ex-Solicitor General,
E. J. McFlynn, and James McShane,
Commissioner of Agriculture and Public
Works, expressing sympathy for Ireland
and for the especial object of Mr.. OBrien's
visit. jeremiah Gallagher, President of the
local branch of the National League, occu-
pied the chair and spoke severely of the Gov
enor General in his opening address.
Mr.. o'BRIEN'S SPEECH.
When Mr.. O'Brien's turn came to speak
the scene of enthusiasm was even greater
than that at Montreal which greeted him.
The audience many of whom were women,
cheered, and men waved hats, handkerchief
and umbrellas frantically in the air.
o'BRIEN's SPEECH.
In his speech here to-day Editor
O'Brien said he had to express
his Acknowledgements not merely to his
friends, but to his opponents for what
courtesy and fair play he had received up to
the present time. He said he believed that
good many prejudices and misunderstood
ings which had arisen with reference to his
visit were being already dispelled, and he
expressed his confidence that the more the
subject was threshed out the more severely
every humane and hberty-loving man in
Canada would condemn the conduct of Lord
Lansdowne, and the more they would recog-
ME that this visit was the only means to
avert the total destruction of an entire com.
munlty OF oppressed and cruelty wronged
tenants.
NOT OF ERINs SEEKING.
"The Irish people had not sought this quar-
rel with Lord Lansdowne He had himself
forced it by making himself the champion
anu standar-bearer of the worst and most
lnhuman class of rack renters in Ireland
HilsSes.l The Montreal Herald of to-day y
he continued, 'took up the position with
which L do not for one moment quarrel
t1at the Canadian people would not take on
the statement of others the assertion that
Lord Lansdowne was as black as he was
painted until the other side was heard from.
Invite and challenge Lord Lansdowne to
answer or dispute single fact which the
Hsrdtd says should not be accepted until
he has had an opportunity of doing this.
Lord Lansdowne need not seriously shelter
himself under the plea that his official posi-
self.
THE PRESS OPEN TO ALL.
In free country like this the press was
open to him as to me [applausel and as a
matter Of fact Lord Lansdowne had al
ready very significantly availed himself of
Iqe ordinary channels of newspaper defense.
ne has ON more than one occasion, through
interviews and coDlnlutiqueS 06tcicI, done
his utmost to prejudice the Canadian people
Win reference to my visit [hissesl, and he
cHHhot now pretend so to wrap himself up
IN majesty as to defend himself against an
Indictment which, if unanswered, will bring
upon him the reprobation of Caladonian
PunIc opinion. [Applause.l The fact is,
LORD Lansdownes trouble is not that he
mas been debarred from defending himself
9ut The defense which he has already offered
IL a weak and misleading and lame defense.
lKenewed applause.1 He is not the first per-
son In the same predicament who sheltered
closed.
Not only has Lord Lansdowne literally
asvalled himself of newspaper interviews in
MS own defense, but his agent, one Of the
.IitOsC asGu1e OF hvlng men, did exhaust all
tle resources of MS ingenuity through the
Atlantic cable to obscure and prejudice the
Judgment OF the Canadian people in the in
gereSt OF his master. Misses Lord Lans-
uowhe wanted not so much advocates in the
ads,, a%ess, as material to supply them with an
adequate answer.
HIS ONLY REFUGE.
The only refuge now of his defenders ap-
pears TO be in the absurd notion that it was
as Governor General of Canada, and not as
~, a,i irish evictor, that am here to arraign
th; nlih; Lord Lansdowne has himself forgot
zen zen MS high Office as Governor General of a
IRE, aIee people when he carried, and is carrying
ouV, IN Ireland proceedings In direct viola
uon OK principles which the Canadian Par
lament has again and again affirmed with
,gi.altion to ireland. II / be wrong in in
ETltlhg public condemnation Of the
Luggacurren evictions then the members
vi the Canadian Parliament were
wrong IN presenting resolutions denouncing
IIiliGinous landlords and the coercive system in
ttLLelaand. hold on the contrary, that it is
VI ose highest right and duty, constitutionally,
VI VI nation enjoying the blessings of self
hoyelnment to know whether the ruler of
. .llelr country was not himself forgetting the
sely injustice which the Canadian Parlia-
nleht deprecated and abhorred. Either they
UuSnu 70 expunge their resolutions of sym
bdtIy Tor Ireland from the books of the
oahadian Parliament or they ought to
,u;t.hIhowledge that their ruler should pay a
-. l.